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US 6,685,715 B2Granted
Clamp having bendable shaft
AssigneeNovare Surgical Systems, Inc.
InventorsDavid J. Danitz, Adam C. Gold
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamp has a handle assembly and a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element, the pair of jaws being parallel to each other when they are opened and when they are closed. The clamp also has a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly.
Claims10
A clamp comprising:
- a handle assembly;
- a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element, the pair of jaws being parallel to each other when they are opened and when they are closed;
- and
- a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly;
- wherein the shaft is completely flexible without any external support yet is capable of withstanding axial loads;
- and
- further including a rigid element that can be placed in a first position where the rigid element supports the shaft in a manner where the shaft cannot be bent and in a second position where a portion of the shaft can be bent.
4 more elements
A method of performing a medical procedure, comprising:
- (a) providing a clamp comprising:
- a handle assembly;
- a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed;
- and
- a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly;
- (b) inserting the jaws through a first incision or port;
- (c) inserting a secondary instrument through a second incision or port so that the secondary instrument can grip the jaws and articulate the jaws to a desired position;
- and
- (d) causing the jaws to be closed to grip a blood vessel or tissue.
6 more elements
A method of performing a medical procedure, comprising:
- (a) providing a clamp comprising:
- a handle assembly;
- a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed;
- and
- a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly;
- (b) inserting the jaws through an incision or port;
- (c) inserting a secondary instrument through the same incision or port so that the secondary instrument can grip the jaws and articulate the jaws to a desired position;
- and
- (d) causing the jaws to be closed to grip a blood vessel or tissue.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.